Rizal gov reopens leachate-dumping landfill in Rodriguez town

MANILA, Philippines — Gov. Casimiro “Jun" Ynares III of Rizal province on Friday said the 19-hectare sanitary landfill in Rodriguez town has resumed operation a day after town Mayor Pedro Cuerpo ordered its closure and blocked entry point with a truck and human shields. Likewise, Ynares warned that the provincial board may issue another suspension order against Cuerpo if he will keep on impounding garbage trucks and refuse to reopen the landfill. Cuerpo, along with some municipal councilors, ordered the permanent closure of the landfill Wednesday night. The mayor also impounded two garbage trucks from Metro Manila for ignoring municipal executive order 9308 EO 9308 imposing the immediate closure of the 19-hectare provincial sanitary landfill, issued on Monday. In a television interview, Cuerpo had openly declared that he will block the opening of the facility as well as entry into it as he allegedly impounded garbage trucks from Metro Manila. A truck, chains and alleged supporters of Cuerpo tried to block entry into the landfill by putting up soil barricades and forming a human chain. But after a surprise inspection in the facility to ensure that everything was within legal means, Ynares said that the dump trucks from Caloocan and Makati City were granted entry to throw their garbage into the facility. "Bukas na yung landfill, tuloy na ang operasyon (The landfill is open, it's business as usual)," Ynares said. Ynares, likewise, said that had already instructed Rizal Police Chief Col. Ireneo Dordas to ensure peace and order in barangay San Isidro, where the 19-hectare landfill is located. "Ang ini-uutos ko lang kay Col. Dordas ay to maintain peace and order.. When you say peace and order ‘yung order napapabayaan, nagkakagulo. So, I asked the good colonel to ensure that there would be no obstruction to the public roads," he said. Ynares has insisted that the provincial government has authority over the landfill and that the host local government has no legal right to impose closure on the facility. The 19-hectare sanitary landfill in the town of Rodriguez, Rizal province remains in limbo due to conflicting positions of local officials. Cuerpo said the municipal government is stopping the landfill's operation to protect the public and the environment. "We will no longer allow its operator, SWIMS (Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists) to continue polluting our rivers," he said. The closure order was issued after municipal environment officials claimed leachate from the dump site was being diverted to the nearby Lukutang Maliit river. - GMANews.TV